The Mobile District is pleased to announce the QuadW Foundation’s continued and expanded support of local mission work in our area as well as providing for the expansion of the QuadW Missional Internship program. Specifically, the grant funds:
- Staff support and stipends for up to 28 college-aged interns each summer for the next five years. These interns serve God in Mobile’s inner city communities, live in Christian community, and are trained as missional leaders.
- Expansion of the QuadW Missional Internship to Kansas City, Kansas in 2013. This represents the first expansion of the internship outside of Mobile. Funding is for up to twelve interns.
- Support for a cooperative effort between the General Board of Global Missions and the Mobile District to pilot new approaches in Young Adult Missions programs. As part of this effort, the district requested and received three GBGM missionaries– Deborah Strausbaugh, and Ash and Stephanie Norton. The pilot program incorporates the components of the existing internship for college students.
- Salary for Rev. Don Woolley to serve as Director of QuadW. He is charged with expanding the QuadW Missional Internship to additional cities, while coordinating local mission work in the Mobile District and overseeing the work of local GBGM Young Adult Missionaries.
The money is specifically granted to “Open Doors – United Methodists on Mission” – a 501c3 recently established under the oversight of the Mobile District’s Board of Mission and Church Extension. The mission of Open Doors is to “fully engage United Methodists in expressing God’s love by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through holistic ministries that transform our communities.” Our district is excited about the creative ministries fostered by Open Doors both in support of existing agencies and to launch new initiatives.
Finally, we are very grateful that the QuadW Foundation granted our request to rename the internship in honor of Willie Tichenor, who died of osteosarcoma on March 15, 2006 at age 19. The QuadW Foundation itself was established to carry on Willie’s desire to make positive changes in the world around him, and the question “What Would Willie Want?” guides the Foundation’s work. We encourage you to see www.quadw.org to learn more about Willie, QuadW, and the incredible efforts they support. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to partner with them in this God-honoring, Kingdom expanding work!